The Effect of Home-based Daily Journal Writing in Korean Adolescents with Smartphone Addiction.

Lee H, Seo MJ, Choi TY - J. Korean Med. Sci. (2016)

Bottom Line:
Despite the benefits of smartphones, many adverse effects have emerged.The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of a home-based daily journal of smartphone use (HDJ-S) in Korean adolescents.There was a significant increase in the total scores of the Parents' Concerns for Children's Smartphone Activities Scale in the high risk group between baseline and following two weeks of treatment (P < 0.05).

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea .

ABSTRACTDespite the benefits of smartphones, many adverse effects have emerged. However, to date, there was no particular approach to treat or prevent smartphone addiction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of a home-based daily journal of smartphone use (HDJ-S) in Korean adolescents. Three hundred thirty five middle school students participated in this study. The severity of smartphone addiction was measured using the Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale. The ability to control smartphone use was evaluated with the Motive Scale for Smartphone Regulation. We used the Parents' Concerns for Children's Smartphone Activities Scale to measure parental monitoring and supervision of adolescents' smartphone activities. The Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale classified subjects into high risk and non-high risk for smartphone addiction, according to total scores. Forty six participants (14%) were high risk for smartphone addiction. The high risk group performed the HDJ-S for two weeks, and the same scales were subsequently assessed. After performing the HDJ-S, the total scores of the Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale decreased significantly in the high risk group (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the total scores of the Parents' Concerns for Children's Smartphone Activities Scale in the high risk group between baseline and following two weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). The HDJ-S was effective for adolescents with smartphone addiction and increased the parents' concerns for their children's smartphone activities. We suggested that HDJ-S would be considered as a treatment and prevention for smartphone addiction.

Figure 1: Flow of subjects in the present study of Home-based Daily Journal Writing in Korean Adolescents with Smartphone Addiction.

Mentions:
This study includes a total of 335 adolescent subjects, having 155 males and 180 females. Among the subjects, those not at a high risk of smartphone addiction comprised 289 adolescents and those at a high risk were 46 adolescents (Fig. 1). When comparing those at high risk with those not at risk, there was no difference in age or duration of smartphone use, however the ratio of female to male, and the time using the smartphone per day was significantly higher in those at high risk (Table 1). According to the most-used smartphone functions, those at high risk spent significantly more time using Social Networking Services (SNS) and chatting than those not at risk.

Figure 1: Flow of subjects in the present study of Home-based Daily Journal Writing in Korean Adolescents with Smartphone Addiction.

Mentions:
This study includes a total of 335 adolescent subjects, having 155 males and 180 females. Among the subjects, those not at a high risk of smartphone addiction comprised 289 adolescents and those at a high risk were 46 adolescents (Fig. 1). When comparing those at high risk with those not at risk, there was no difference in age or duration of smartphone use, however the ratio of female to male, and the time using the smartphone per day was significantly higher in those at high risk (Table 1). According to the most-used smartphone functions, those at high risk spent significantly more time using Social Networking Services (SNS) and chatting than those not at risk.

Bottom Line:
Despite the benefits of smartphones, many adverse effects have emerged.The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of a home-based daily journal of smartphone use (HDJ-S) in Korean adolescents.There was a significant increase in the total scores of the Parents' Concerns for Children's Smartphone Activities Scale in the high risk group between baseline and following two weeks of treatment (P < 0.05).

Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea .

ABSTRACTDespite the benefits of smartphones, many adverse effects have emerged. However, to date, there was no particular approach to treat or prevent smartphone addiction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of a home-based daily journal of smartphone use (HDJ-S) in Korean adolescents. Three hundred thirty five middle school students participated in this study. The severity of smartphone addiction was measured using the Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale. The ability to control smartphone use was evaluated with the Motive Scale for Smartphone Regulation. We used the Parents' Concerns for Children's Smartphone Activities Scale to measure parental monitoring and supervision of adolescents' smartphone activities. The Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale classified subjects into high risk and non-high risk for smartphone addiction, according to total scores. Forty six participants (14%) were high risk for smartphone addiction. The high risk group performed the HDJ-S for two weeks, and the same scales were subsequently assessed. After performing the HDJ-S, the total scores of the Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale decreased significantly in the high risk group (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the total scores of the Parents' Concerns for Children's Smartphone Activities Scale in the high risk group between baseline and following two weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). The HDJ-S was effective for adolescents with smartphone addiction and increased the parents' concerns for their children's smartphone activities. We suggested that HDJ-S would be considered as a treatment and prevention for smartphone addiction.